"Why you little imp! You haven't changed a single bit, Billy Patten!
You're just as bad as ever," declared his sister. "You're a pest!"
"I am not! You're another!" said the boy, and to Kit it seemed as if she had never been away from home, for the brother and sister had started again just where they left off, half teasing, half in earnest as their quarreling always was.
Billy Patten was not bashful. "Bold," would have described his attitude more than anything else.
"See this stick!" He addressed Bet suddenly at the same time frowning defiantly as he caught Kit's eye.
"Of course I see the stick. What about it?" laughed Bet Baxter.
"It's a humming stick that grows out here in Arizona. Isn't it wonderful! You just tap it gently like that and you can hear it hum."
Kit made a gesture to interfere but the Judge smiled tolerantly and signalled the girl to keep quiet.
Bet took the stick, which seemed like a hollow tube, and tapped it gently on the ground. A strange, buzzing started, continued for a few moments, then quieted. And Bet raised the stick once more.
Billy put forth his hand to capture the rod, but before he could interfere, Bet had brought it down with a thud on the ground. A wasp flew from the hole with an angry buzz and lighted fair and square on Billy's nose, burying its stinger deep into the flesh.
The boy gave a howl, then choked back the tears. He was too much of a sport to make a fuss, especially as the joke was on him. The hollow stem was the insect's nest.